7 inventions that are helping the world's poor

1. Lifestraw

The LifeStraw filters water as people drink from lakes, puddles and any source of dirty water. The small handheld tubing apparatus was designed for distribution in developing countries during times of crisis. 900,000 of the filters were distributed in Western Kenya in 2011, providing almost one eighth of the Kenyan population with safe drinking water for three to five years.

2. Hotspot Solar Ovens

Using the power of the sun, Hotpot ovens provide families with an inexpensive way to cook meals. Solar cookers are particularly helpful in Africa because they remove the need for African women to leave their homesteads to gather firewood. These solar cookers allow women to provide for their families while simultaneously help preserve their personal wellbeing.

3. Jet Injector

Injections are no longer needed to provide vaccines. The new Jet Injector uses high pressure to deliver the substance, a safer and simpler method for children to get the vaccines they need. Rather than using needles, these medical devices provide vaccination through a fine stream of fluid that passes through skin into tissue. They are disposable, and single use jet injectors help to eliminate the risk of re-using needles, particularly prevalent in low-resource regions.

4. Plumpy'Nut

Given that a child dies of malnutrition every six seconds, Plumpy'Nut was a direly needed advancement in hunger treatment. Plumpy'Nut is a simple yet ground-breaking substance that in 2-4 weeks transforms a malnourished toddler from near death to healthy. Plumpy'Nut contains 500 calories of peanut butter, milk, vitamins and minerals in a paste form. Plumpy'Nut is a treat that can be administered anywhere by anyone.

5. The Hippo Roller

With millions of people walking several miles a day to access clean water, the Hippo Roller helps impoverished people conserve energy and provide water for their families. The Hippo Roller is an innovative device that allows people to roll 90 gallons of water across the ground. It consists of a barrel-shaped container that can be placed inside a rolling wheel.

6. One Laptop per Child

It is a low cost computer designed for children in developing countries. It has built-in wireless and screen that is readable under direct sunlight. The purpose of this computer is to give children across the world the opportunity to learn more, in addition to connecting them to the rest of the world. The laptop is rugged enough for children who go to school outdoors and durable enough for children in the most remote regions.

7. Pee Poople

Over 40% of the world lacks access to a toilet, and children die everyday due to contaminated water from inadequate sanitation facilities.The organization "Pee Poople" has developed a way of cleanly and cheaply doing away with pee and poop, while also creating valuable fertilizer for local crops to simultaneously protect and feed the world's poor. Residents of impoverished villages can pee or poop in the Peepoople bag and the waste will be broken down into fertilizer within 2-4 weeks.

If you would like to learn more about global poverty and other innovative inventions, check out the Borgen Project, borgenproject.org